Gobbett Tin Mine

Overview

A tin mine near Hexworthy on the Swincombe, where a late medieval openwork recorded as 'Gobbett besides Hextworthye' was reworked from the 1790s by five successive companies until the last was wound up in 1887.

History

Gobbett Tin Mine lies near Hexworthy, beside the Hexworthy to Sherberton road above the Swincombe. Its earliest working is a large openwork running east-west up the hill along a tin lode, thought to be late medieval, and documented in the early seventeenth century as 'Gobbett besides Hextworthye'. It was worked with two neighbours, Deby Hole and Wheal Cumpston.

Mining revived in the 1790s, and by 1812 the mine was 'expected to be very productive'; in the early 1830s it had a count house, a pumping waterwheel and a stamping mill. Between 1836 and 1881 five companies worked it in turn: Dartmoor United Tin Mines, which sank a shaft to 40 fathoms and used two 24-foot wheels; Dartmoor Consols, which drove an adit 150 fathoms on a lode; the Swincombe Vale Mining Company of 1864, wound up in 1867; the Gobbett Tin Mining Company of 1871, which raised 2.4 tons of black tin in 1873-75; and The Gobbett Tin Mine Ltd of 1880. A 40-foot stamping wheel was also used, and one wheel was 'in a feeble state' in 1874. In 1877 the mine's water wheel, stamps and other equipment were sold for £65 and hauled some 25 miles to Wheal Virgin near Okement Hill. The last company employed five miners in 1881 and four in 1884, and was wound up on 8 December 1887. Ruined buildings, the openwork, an adit and a crazing mill stone remain near the road.

Geology

An east-west tin lode in the Dartmoor granite, first worked by a large openwork (beamwork).

Workings

A late medieval openwork, a 40-fathom shaft, a 150-fathom adit, two 24 ft waterwheels and later a 40 ft stamping wheel.

Closure

The Gobbett Tin Mine Ltd was wound up on 8 December 1887 and the mine closed permanently.

What remains

Ruined buildings, the openwork and an adit survive beside the Sherberton road.

Ruined mine buildings, the openwork, an adit and a crazing mill stone.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Hexworthy Mine — Neighbouring Hexworthy tin mines above the Swincombe and O Brook.
• Knack Mine — Knack's waterwheel and stamps were bought from Gobbett in 1877.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• The openwork is documented in the early 17th century as 'Gobbett besides Hextworthye'. ¹
• Between 1836 and 1881 five successive companies operated the mine. ¹
• In 1877 a water wheel, stamps and other mining equipment were bought from the Gobbett mine at Hexworthy for £65 and hauled to Wheal Virgin. ²
• The Gobbett Tin Mine Ltd was wound up on 8 December 1887. ¹
• An adit from Gobbett Tin Mine lies not far from the Swincombe car park. ³

Sources

1. (secondary) Gobbett Tin Mine — Dartmoor Explorations
2. (secondary) Wheal Virgin — Legendary Dartmoor
3. (observational) Walk 2009-7-22: Hexworthy, Swincombe and Gobbett — Dartmoor CAM Walks

Record created: 17 October 2026 · Last researched: 17 October 2026